St William of York

Today is the feast of St William of York.

William Fitzherbert who died in 1154 had a somewhat chequered career trying to hold on to the See of York, and according to some traditions died as a result of a poisoned chalice. There is an account of his life at William of York

Today Gordon Plumb, who is a superb photographer of medieval stained glass and generous in making his work available, posted a link on the Medieval Religion discussion group to an album containing images of all the main light panels in the St William window in York Minster. The window which lights the north-east choir transept, and with that dedicated to St Cuthbert opposite, flanks the original site of the High Altar in the Minster - the altar was moved a bay east in the eighteenth century and now occupies what before the sixteenth century removal of the freretory was the shrine chapel of St William. The window, which shows scenes from his life and of his posthumous miracles, was the gift of the baronial family of Roos of Helmsley Castle - who feature in the donor panels at the base of the window.

The album can be viewed here.